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The number of ministers and their deputies serving in the government has now exceeded the 110 mark – IT IS NOW 111.

Credible information available to the Daily Dispatch indicates that President Nana Akufo-Addo will have a Major ministerial reshuffle in November, this year.

The President is said to want to do it in November, so that those who would lose their positions would recover in time to enjoy the 2018 Christmas and New Year festivities.

A few advisors have also argued with the President to move that major reshuffle to after January 7, 2019, to enable those who would be negatively affected to enjoy the festivities ‘small’ before the ‘chop’.

The main focus of the reshuffle will be to reduce the number of Ministers and deputies to about 100. A number of deputy Minister are likely to be removed as some of them are said to be having difficulties with their bosses.

A deputy Minister recently resigned citing the need to work hard to protect a hitherto NDC seat in the Eastern Region. The main reason is that he was virtually left redundant; with the Minister virtually not giving him any work.

As the credible reports filter in, Influence Peddlers (IPs) are busy at work, employing all their ‘tricks’ to create the impression that they can influence the decisions affecting who to be maintained or sacked.

If you are in doubt about who IPs are, below is an article, first published on August 6, 2018, as a backgrounder:

WHAT WE TOLD GHANAIANS ABOUT INFLUENTIAL PEDDLERS credit: Daily Dispatch (June 12, 2018)

AN ANGRY INFLUENCE PEDDLER REPLIES DISPATCH: MIND YOUR BUSINESS – YOU CAN JOIN US

A news desk report

There is a saying – “who the cap fits, let him wear it.”

Yesterday, one of the persons who the cap of INFLUENCE PEDDLER (IP) fits, walked to our office. He had a copy of yesterday’s issue of the Daily Dispatch. He identified himself with his passport but wanted his reaction to be published but without his name. We agreed.

He is in his late 40s and has his own business of buying and selling any legal commodity that will bring him handsome profit.

He gave us a brief background of himself – graduated from one of the country’s universities. Has been working as a consultant with a management firm but does his own private thing on the quiet- buying and selling anything that moves fast.

We asked him how he became an IP…his story was interesting.

“I used to run errands for my uncle who had connections in the two main political parties. I was in my late 20s and I carried monies across, that is between the one who gets the contract and the politician. My uncle advised me- do not cheat but find how you can also benefit from these errands, apart from the usual tips. I soon found a way out.”

“How”, we asked.

He paused and replied, “as I got friendly with the politicians I was sending monies, they felt comfortable to make some requests – can I bring some of my female friends for some weekend parties? The trust developed from there and when my uncle passed on, I continued.”

What are the elements which makes you succeed?

“You must impress the businessmen that you have easy access to him – you can ask him to visit you whilst you are in the politician’s relaxed company. You must deliver with the small projects or contracts”.

After the 30-minute chat, he had a message for all those who are ‘jealous of IPs – MIND YOUR BUSINESS – YOU CAN JOIN US.

As a backgrounder, below is the story the gentleman was reacting to, published in yesterday’s issue of the Daily Dispatch:

‘HOW AKUFO-ADDO CAN EXPOSE CORRUPTION VIA INFLUENCE PEDDLERS

An investigative desk report

On October 28, 2013, the Daily Dispatch published a front page story headed – ‘PREZ MAHAMA, BEWARE OF INFLUENCE PEDDLERS ooo’. It was to caution the then President about how influence Peddlers can engage in various acts of corruption, using their relations with him.

It seems we need to update what we wrote to help President Akufo-Addo expose any potential acts of corruption via these IPs. In the light of the recent allegations that Mr. Kwesi Nyantakyi used the President’s name to allegedly enrich himself.

FIRST STEP

The president should as a matter of urgency, get two or three phones which will be for Whatsapp only. These phones should be given to three men of God, from different religious beliefs (two Christians and one Moslem). Only the president should have the passwords to these phones and he should take them every two days to access pieces of information from these three people.

SECOND STEP

The President should then give these whatsapp messages to persons he can trust to do follow-ups on those which give hints of alleged corrupt practices.

THIRD STEP

Dear readers, can you imagine having a whatsapp which reads like “Mr President, I have been to two appropriate agencies to try and facilitate my US$4 million investment in Ghana. They are asking for a total of US$500,000 (half a million dollars) before they process my documents. The persons making these demands are Mr X (phone – 1,2,3,4) and Ms Y (phone – 5,6,7)

There are many of such instances and even though the President means well, that cannot be said of all those he has entrusted the duty of helping him rule the country.